Chapter 64, Gifts

Translator: Barnnn

 

Spring had begun to take hold, its gentle warmth seeping into the air, and the sunlight spilling through the window above the bed was almost dazzling in its brightness.

Ize stretched languidly as she sat up, the motion causing Hal to stir awake in almost perfect sync.

 

“Morning, Ize. And happy birthday.”

“Thank you. And good morning to you too.”

 

Hal let out a quiet chuckle at her oddly formal reply, the sound barely disturbing the tranquil morning. He rolled out of bed and began readying himself for the day, and Ize followed suit, slipping into her usual attire.

 

“Hey, mornin’. You two are up early today, eh?”

 

Fieda’s voice carried from the doorway as he stepped out of his side room, completing their trio. With that, they left their quarters together.

As they neared the staircase, Ize hesitated.

 

“U-um…” Her voice caused Hal to turn back and glance at her questioningly. “I think I can manage with just your hands today.”

“You sure? If you get nervous, let me know right away.”

 

As he spoke, Hal extended his left hand. Ize reached out and placed her right hand atop his, her fingers curling around his palm.

Step by careful step, they descended together.

Fieda waited at the landing below, watching them with a tense expression, his breath held as though he were navigating the stairs himself.

At last, they reached the bottom.

 

“Phew… sorry for taking so long.”

 

Ize exhaled in relief, but the moment she let her guard down, her balance wavered. Hal caught her, steadying her before she could stumble.

 

“You did great. This is real progress,” he reassured. “The inn has a lot of stairs, but the Dungeon has fewer — soon enough, this won’t even be an issue.”

“I hope so.”

“All right,” Fieda said, clapping his hands lightly. “Let’s eat and get ready.”

“”Yeah!”” Ize and Hal answered in unison, their voices overlapping in cheerful agreement.

 

As they made their way toward their usual table, Hal’s gaze flickered toward Kenis’s party, seated nearby. Without a word, he nudged Ize forward, gesturing that he’d handle the rest.

Ize dipped her head in greeting, but before she could say anything, the two women at the other table let out delighted cheers. She startled at the unexpected reaction, turning back to Hal with wide eyes, her cheeks warming. He only grinned and ruffled her hair in amusement before finally taking his seat.

 

“Fieda, Hal, Ize, good morning!” Etta’s familiar voice rang out as she approached, placing their breakfast plates before them. “And Ize, yours comes with a little extra today.”

 

Ize blinked down at her meal, puzzled. At a glance, her plate looked identical to the others — salad, Orc bacon, scrambled eggs, buttered bread, and the usual soup of the day.

 

“Hehe… You’ll see once you eat!” Etta added, her eyes flashing a mischievous glint before she spun on her heel and disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Wonder what it is…” Hal mused, leaning over to scrutinize Ize’s plate.

 

But no matter how closely he looked, everything seemed perfectly ordinary.

 

“Well, I guess I’ll find out,” Ize murmured, picking up her utensils.

 

She took her time with each bite, savoring the familiar flavors while keeping an eye out for anything unusual. When she reached for the still-warm bread and tore it open, a rich, buttery aroma mingled with something sweet.

 

“Oh! There’s jam and cream inside.”

“Red and white — auspicious colors,” Hal pointed out.

“They are?” Fieda asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. Red and white are often used for celebrations.”

“Miss Etta probably doesn’t know that,” Ize said, “but either way, the jam is delicious. It tastes like strawberries.”

“Must be a seasonal fruit… We should thank her and ask about it later.”

“Don’t go buying out her whole stock,” Fieda warned, narrowing his eyes.

“”Okayyy!””

 

Fieda sighed at their overly enthusiastic — and entirely unconvincing — replies, then turned to Ize, studying her with a slight frown.

 

“Hmm?”

“Just wondering if the Goddess will send you away.”

Ize blinked, caught off guard. “Send me… away?”

“Yeah. If your heart isn’t in the right place, or for other reasons, she might refuse to grant you a skill… In your case, she might doubt your actual age.”

“That’s so rude!” Ize shot back.

Hal only shrugged, his expression amused. “I wouldn’t worry. The Goddess already knows the exact timing of your Coming-of-Age ceremony.”

“Oh, really? Well, if you say so, Hal, then I’m sure it’s going to be fine.”

“No, it’s not fine! Not at all!” Ize cut in. “Trust in your comrades a little, will you?”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be lying about your age, Ize.”

“Wait — why are YOU accusing me!?”

 

Caught completely off guard, Ize froze, her mouth opening and closing in disbelief. Hal, rather than coming to her defense, simply watched the exchange unfold with open amusement.

 

“Just you wait, Fieda!” Ize huffed, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “I’ll get an incredible skill from the Goddess, and you’ll be begging for forgiveness — ‘Oh, Ize the Great and Powerful, I was so wrong!'”

Hal smirked. “An incredible skill, huh? Now I’m curious.”

“Me too,” Fieda added with a grin. “I’d love to actually say that line someday.”

“Argh! So frustrating!” Ize groaned, throwing her hands up. But her frustration was short-lived as she took another bite of the warm, buttery bread. “And this bread is so amazing!”

 

The soft texture and rich flavor melted on her tongue, bringing an involuntary smile to her lips. Even as she grumbled, the simple joy of the meal was enough to soothe her mood. Letting the moment go, she quietly savored her slightly more special breakfast.

 

◆

 

Before leaving the dining hall, Ize and Hal made their way to Kenis’s table to greet them.

 

“Good morning,” Hal said, offering a polite nod. “Looking forward to today.”

“Good morning,” Ize parroted. “I heard you helped pick out my outfit. Thank you so much — it means a lot to me. Miss Elene, Miss Odelya, I’ll be in your care today.”

 

Ize gave the two women beside her a small bow, and they burst into delighted laughter.

 

“Oh, we had just as much fun!” Elene said, grinning.

“Elene’s been dying to dress you up,” Odelya added, her tone playful. “Today’s going to be a treat for us too.”

 

Elene carried herself with a graceful elegance, while Odelya exuded the confident presence of a battle-hardened older sister. They made for an excellent duo, and Ize had often exchanged greetings with them before and after her showers. Perhaps, all this time, they had been subtly looking out for her, aware that she had been disguising herself as a man.

A warm feeling bloomed in her chest at the thought. She smiled, her cheeks tinged pink.

The moment she did, the two women groaned dramatically, clutching their hearts.

 

“Dangerous! Too cute!” Elene gasped.

“Hal, you’ve got your work cut out for you!” Odelya teased.

“For what, exactly?” Hal sighed, shaking his head as he took a small step back. “Look, we’ll be in our room getting ready. Come by whenever you’re done.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Ize added.

“We’ll be right there.”

“See you soon.”

 

The rest of Kenis’s party waved in farewell, and after exchanging goodbyes, Ize and Hal made their way back to their room to prepare for the day ahead.

 

◆

 

Fieda had returned ahead of them, and when he opened the door for Ize, she stepped inside — only to freeze at the unexpected sight before her.

Resting on the bedside table was a bouquet of flowers, the delicate arrangement placed there with obvious care.

 

“For girls, it’s tradition for their families to give them flowers on this day,” Fieda explained, rubbing the back of his neck. “Boys usually get a dagger instead, though. Anyway… congratulations on your coming of age, Ize.”

“Oh…” Ize’s breath hitched. “…Thank you, Fieda.”

 

The awkwardness in Fieda’s voice only made her more emotional, and she swallowed past the lump forming in her throat.

In truth, the one who had arranged this wasn’t Fieda — it was Hal. He had been the one to insist that Fieda, who had taken on the role of their guardian, should be the one to present it to her. At first, Fieda had protested, claiming it was too much. But Hal had simply raised an eyebrow and asked, “So you’re saying Ize should go through the ceremony without a gift?”

That had been enough to make him relent.

Even after all this time, Hal still found himself struggling to grasp the finer nuances of local customs. As he observed the awkward silence stretching between Fieda and Ize, both of them staring at the bouquet with expressions that ranged from uncertain to slightly overwhelmed, he decided to step in before things grew any more stilted.

 

“All right, time to get ready,” he announced. “I’ll use Fieda’s room, so you can change here, Ize.”

“I’ll head downstairs ahead of you two,” Fieda added.

“Thanks,” Ize replied with a nod.

 

Fieda proceeded to turn on his heel and left. Hal followed suit, disappearing into the small side room.

Now alone, Ize wasted no time retrieving the package she had received the previous day, carefully unwrapping it and spreading its contents across the bed.

The pale blue dress unfurled before her, delicate and shimmering faintly in the morning light. The soft fabric felt cool beneath her fingertips, and for a brief moment, she allowed herself to simply admire it. But there wasn’t time to linger.

Dressing proved more challenging than expected. This world lacked the convenience of zippers, and the tiny buttons running down the back and sides were no easy task to fasten alone. She twisted her arms awkwardly, fumbling until, finally, she managed to secure the last one. Over the dress, she pulled on the dark blue cardigan.

Next came a pair of thin socks and the leather short boots. These were her first proper shoes in this world — until now, she had been disguising her sneakers using Camouflage power. Fortunately, the laces allowed for a snug fit, ensuring they wouldn’t pinch or rub uncomfortably even after long hours of wear.

 

[I’ll take good care of these.]

 

Tightening the final knot on her laces, she stood. The sensation of fabric shifting against her legs caught her off guard. The ticklish brush of the skirt’s hem against her skin was unfamiliar, stirring a memory — her last time wearing one had been back in July last year, at the end-of-semester ceremony. Without thinking, she swayed her knees slightly, watching how the green-trimmed hem rippled with each movement.

She was still absorbed in the novelty of it when–

 

–Knock, knock.

 

“Are you ready? Can I come in?” Hal’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“Yes, it’s fine,” she called back.

 

The door creaked open, and Hal stepped inside. The moment she laid eyes on him, her breath caught slightly in surprise.

He was dressed in a crisp, light blue shirt paired with khaki slacks — simple, yet neatly put together. More importantly, the color scheme matched hers almost exactly. She blinked, taking in the sight, before realization dawned.

 

“Wow,” she murmured. “Did you plan your outfit around mine?”

“For the record, it wasn’t my idea. Elene and Odelya suggested it. Feels kinda embarrassing, actually,” Hal admitted, rubbing his cheek, looking both amused and just a little self-conscious. “The dress looks good on you. Did the shoes fit all right?”

“Perfectly,” Ize confirmed. “But…” She glanced around the room, frowning slightly. “There’s no full-length mirror, so I can’t really see how everything looks together.”

Hal immediately pulled out the tablet. “I’ll take a picture.”

“Ah–”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

 

Ize hesitated, suddenly feeling a little childish for what she was about to ask. But Hal wasn’t rushing her — he simply stood there, waiting patiently.

 

“I’d like to see it after I’m completely ready,” she admitted.

 

Hal smiled, as if he had expected that answer. He tucked the tablet back into his Magic Bag. “Makes sense. Elene and Odelya should be here soon. Should I wait in the dining hall?”

“Yes, please.”

“I’ll come back to take the picture later. No way I’m doing it in the middle of the dining hall.”

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hal scoffed. “You know how long it takes for Japanese girls to get ready for their coming-of-age ceremonies? In some places, they start at three or four in the morning.”

“No way…” Ize narrowed her eyes. “You’re joking.”

“Nope. Then they go to a studio for family photos, attend the ceremony, take group photos, and keep snapping pictures outside with friends. After that, they go home, change, and party all night. Seriously, the number of pictures they take in a single day is insane. One or two for you? That’s nothing. Besides, you’re the star today, so act like it.”

“That’s just herd mentality,” Ize muttered, but her tone lacked any real protest. “But… if you’ll be in the pictures too, then… feel free to take as many as you want.”

Hal raised an eyebrow. “Me too?”

“Oh, and if we use the timer, Fieda can join as well…”

“Ahh…” Hal studied her for a moment, then let out a small chuckle. “Like family photos, huh?”

 

Ize blinked, surprised he had picked up on the implication so quickly. But when she met his gaze, she found herself smiling back.

Just then, another knock came at the door.

 

“That’s Miss Elene and Miss Odelya.”

“Got it. See you later.”

“Thank you.”

 

Hal gave a lazy wave over his shoulder as he stepped out. Once he was gone, Ize murmured again,

 

“Thank you, Hal.”